On Habit

Wicliffe on the ground, Heighway rucking over.

I'm not saying that habits are bad.

There are plenty of habits that contribute to excellence. Consistent training. Eating well. Proper recovery. Good hygiene. You're not going to find excellence without those habits.

Even during a game, where the situation is changing constantly, habits sometimes help. Like making a habit of always keeping your legs driving, or of making your first defensive steps forward, or of being aware and checking for support.

Then there are habits that cause critical errors in a game situation.

I've been watching the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup. It's helped me to learn the rules and method of play, and it's really enjoyable homework. I was watching the France v. New Zealand game. About 6 minutes in, New Zealand's inside center (Wicliffe) finds a big gap and takes it up to within 10 meters of the try line. She tries to get off a pop pass, but then takes it to ground. Victoria Heighway, a lock, is the first one there. And she moves to secure the ball by rucking over the other player. But there are three French women there, and they push her back. Maybe a second later, four or five more New Zealand players arrive. But by then, France has already poached the ball.

I think she should have picked up the ball and ran with it. But starting a ruck is exactly what I would have done.

Why? Because I would be in the habit of rucking. Heighway's a lock. She's used to defending the ball, not picking it up and running with it. But if she had picked it up and taken it to ground, even if she'd been driven away from the gain line, her supporting teammates would have had time to arrive, and the ball wouldn't have been turned over.

This got me thinking about habit. A lot of the learning, in the early phases of trying a new sport, goes to knowing what to do in each situation; it's about getting into certain habits. Placing the ball well, that's a habit you need to get down. Going into a tackle with your hips square. Carrying the ball so it's not stripped. Releasing immediately. Getting onto your feet as quickly as possible. We're taught what to do in each situation, and told, "If this happens, do this." You've got to do that; that's how you learn the game.

But once you've got the game down, you need to be able to evaluate each situation individually. You're one on three, and your support hasn't arrived yet. Maybe this is the one time you pick up the ball and run with it, rather than rucking.

Getting the habits of the game down makes you a good player. Just like giving the correct response to a rote question in school makes you a good student. But excellence, whether on the field or in the classroom, takes critical thinking.

Sometimes, you need to get out of the habit.